Perspectives, August 13

Copyright for an Innovative and Inclusive Canada

While we’ve been enjoying some time to relax this summer, we know that many students and educators will soon be returning to campus to prepare for the new academic year. With this in mind, we have been thinking about how learners access textbooks, instructional videos, online content, and other educational materials and how that may change and be improved upon in the future.

Earlier this summer, CICan welcomed the opportunity to provide the Standing Committee on Industry, Science and Technology (INDU) with its recommendations related to the review of the Copyright Act.

Copyright legislation affects the way students and educators can access and use copyright-protected materials, and consequently has an impact on teaching and learning. In this digital age, it is imperative that the Copyright Act keeps up in order to support new ideas, allow the dissemination of knowledge, permit access to education, embrace technological innovation, and be flexible enough to accommodate changes that will occur in the future.

Written in consultation with its members, CICan’s submission to INDU included four recommendations:

Recognize that no changes to the scope of fair dealing are required within the Act. The wide-ranging programs and credentials offered by colleges require a vast array of learning materials accessible in different formats. Fair dealing allows faculty to provide short excerpts from a variety of sources to supplement the content included in required textbooks and other copyright-protected works for which licences are purchased, thereby enhancing learning experiences.

Amend Section 41 to allow the removal of Technological Protection Measures (TPM) on copyright-protected works, for non-infringing purposes. TPM restricts users from breaking digital locks for fair dealing purposes or even to create closed captions, an accessibility requirement in some jurisdictions. They also unfairly impact programs that rely heavily on audio-visual teaching materials, such as Film, Media and/or Television Production. The circumvention of TPMs for non-infringing purposes should be allowed.

Prevent contracts for the purchase of copyright-protected works from taking precedence over provisions within the Act. Licences purchased for access to digital works often contain clauses that restrict the use of the purchased material. In many cases, these restrictions override what is allowed in the Copyright Act, such as fair dealing for education. Licensing contracts should not supersede users’ rights in the Act.

Ensure the protection and respectful use of Indigenous traditional knowledge; consult Indigenous communities and national Indigenous organizations to work towards this protection. The Copyright Act should be enhanced to address and protect the rights of the First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples of Canada as owners of Indigenous traditional knowledge and stories, whether in oral or fixed format.

The education sector has evolved greatly in the current information age. Technology will continue to change and require the adaptation of elements that support teaching, learning, and knowledge dissemination. Copyright legislation is one of those vital elements and it must remain flexible to respond to emerging technologies. The review of the Copyright Act is an opportunity to safeguard the learning objectives of Canadians for generations to come.

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Present at CICan’s Indigenous Education Symposium

This year’s event will build on CICan’s Indigenous Education Protocol and the Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (2015), to highlight the role of colleges, institutes, cegeps and polytechnics in working towards reconciliation. Participants will share experiences and approaches in implementing the principles of the Protocol and supporting reconciliation within their institutions and with the Indigenous communities they serve in their regions.

We are seeking presentations on topics related to: governance structures that recognize and respect Indigenous peoples, curriculum and learning approaches that implement Indigenous intellectual and cultural traditions, approaches for increasing understanding and reciprocity among Indigenous and non-Indigenous peoples, and more. For a full list of topics click here.

The deadline for proposals is August 24, 2018. Submit your proposal here.

New digital skills internships connect talent and employers

CICan will help Canadian youth acquire the skills and experience they need to succeed in the digital economy thanks to the brand new Digital Tech Internship program! The new two-year initiative, offered in partnership with the Government of Canada, will allow 440 underemployed recent graduates to connect with local employers and gain hands-on work experience.

Funded by Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED)’s Digital Skills for Youth program as part of the Government of Canada’s Youth Employment Strategy, The Digital Tech Internship program will provide up to $15,000 to small businesses and not-for-profit organizations to hire an intern. Of that amount, up to $3,000 can be used for specialized training or professional development.

The new internships will be offered through CICan’s successful Career-Launcher Internship program, which has already helped place over 550 interns with local employers in the clean technology and natural resources sectors – learn more here.

CICan will begin accepting applications from both potential interns and employers mid-August. For more information, view the press release here.

Register now for upcoming CICan events in Ottawa

CICan is pleased to be hosting two exciting events in Ottawa this fall for college and institute leaders!

The CICan Leaders Forum for college and institute presidents and CEOs will take place from November 5-6 and will engage leaders on policy priorities related to building a more inclusive and innovative Canada.

This year, the Forum will be held in parallel with the CICan Symposium: Accelerating Innovation through Applied Research, which will bring together federal policy makers, leaders in applied research, students, community and industry partners to discuss how to support Canadian innovators, foster entrepreneurship, and advance innovation.

Participants of both events are also invited to attend the Student Innovation Showcase on the Hill on November 5, from 5 p.m. to 8 p.m., which will showcase the applied research projects of skilled and creative college and institute students. A call for proposals for the Student Innovation Showcase will be issued in the coming weeks.

All events will provide an opportunity to engage with parliamentarians and senior federal officials to share advocacy priorities. To read more and to register, visit our Events section.

Submit an example to the World Bank and win $5,000!

The World Bank is working on its next World Development Report (WDR) and has launched a competition for post-secondary students from around the world!

With the theme The Changing Nature of Work, the 2019 World Development Report will study how the nature of work is changing as a result of advances in technology and will examine necessary priorities in order to ensure workers stay competitive, including investments in human capital and social infrastructure.

As part of the writing process, the World Bank is asking post-secondary students to submit examples of governments, cities, firms, individuals, or any other actor taking advantage of opportunities created by technology and “the future of work”.

The WEKH will serve as a one-stop source of knowledge, data, and best practices for women entrepreneurs and will deliver a number of activities intended to support the advancement of women entrepreneurs from diverse backgrounds throughout the innovation ecosystem.

The Government of Canada is now inviting applicants to submit their innovative proposals and will provide either one eligible organization or a consortium of eligible organizations up to $8.62 million over three years to establish this Hub.

The deadline for proposals is Sept 7, 2018. For more information and to submit a proposal, click here.

Help tailor Athena SWAN implementation to Canada’s unique reality

The Government of Canada recently announced that it is happy to be moving forward with implementation of the Athena Scientific Women’s Academic Network (SWAN) initiative – an internationally recognized initiative that celebrates higher education institutions that have implemented practices to advance equity, diversity and inclusion (EDI) in the sciences.

As such, the Honourable Kirsty Duncan, Minister of Science and Sport, is looking to consult with post-secondary institutions across the country to discuss how to adapt the initiative for a “made-in-Canada” approach that reflects Canada’s unique reality.

The Natural Sciences and Engineering Research Council (NSERC) will soon be hosting workshops in cities across the country for post-secondary institutions and all Canadians to share their views and ideas about the Athena SWAN initiative.

Please note that during July and August, publication of Perspectives will be reduced to once a month. Regular bi-weekly publication will resume in September.

Eureka! Moment

Did you know that Sheridan College is working to fill a void in research surrounding senior bullying? The college’s Centre for Elder Research has teamed up with Elder Abuse Ontario (EAO) to conduct an Ontario-wide survey about the prevalence and nature of bullying between older adults. The data will then be used to help create a resource package outlining best practices for seniors and those working with seniors to stop bullying. To learn more and complete the survey, click here.

Appointments

Confederation College was pleased to welcome Kathleen Lynch as the college’s new President. Lynch will assume official duties on September 4. Collège Shawinigan was also pleased to welcome a new Director General. Éric Milette assumed official duties as Director General of Collège Shawinigan on August 6.

The Alberta College of Art + Design (ACAD) and Keyano College were pleased to welcome new vice-presidents. Dr. André Plante will join ACAD as Vice-President Academic & Provost with over 25 years of experience in higher education, most recently from Sheridan College; and Frederick Russell will take on the role of Vice-President, Community Relations at Keyano College.

University of the Fraser Valley announced the appointment of three new associate vice-presidents: Dr. Garry Fehr was appointed Associate Vice-President, Research, Engagement, and Graduate Studies; Marnie Wright was appointed Associate Vice-President, Human Resources; and Maureen Wideman was appointed Associate Vice-President, Teaching and Learning.

Finally, The Manitoba Institute of Trades and Technology (MITT) was happy to announce the appointments of Beverlie Stuart as Associate Vice-President, Business Development and Strategic Initiatives; and Deborah Handziuk as Registrar and Executive Director of Admissions and Enrolment.

Events

Reminders

Imagine the Future

Take the Imagine the Future online quiz to share your thoughts on CICan’s new Strategic Plan.

Send Us Your News

One of our main goals at Colleges and Institutes Canada is to champion and share the innovations and awesomeness of our members. You can help! We want to hear about your new applied research, industry and community partnerships, international education, important financial investments and more. Add media@collegesinstitutes.ca to your media mailing lists! We’ll share member institution News Releases and other upcoming announcements online and with our national media contacts based in Ottawa.